Sign



Oct. 20, 925. 1,558,297

J. M." SCHILLING sum Filed Nov. 5, 1924 F49? I 126 72b Z%Z? INVEN TOR JOHN M. SCHILLNG ATTY.

Patented Got. 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOHN M. scri ILLIive, or LIMA, onro.

SIGN.

Application filed November 3, 1924. Serial No. 747,500.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Joan M. SoHrLLrNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Signs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved construction of signs for advertising purposes, by which I provide the sign with letters or characters formed from a bar of plastic or semi-plastic material such as rubber composition, soft metal alloy or soft metal, the essential characteristic of the bar being that it may be readily bent to conform to the out line of any desired letter'or character and retain said conformation, and in making the sign I prefer to form said bar so that it follows the conformation of the entire outer edge of the letter or character, as a result of which the outline formed by the bar is but a part of the width of the face of the character, there being a clear portion between the bounding or border outline of the letter or character formed by the bar. The letters or characters thus formed are applied to a base plate, preferably of thin sheet metal, glass or similar material, which may or may not have the outline of the corresponding letters or characters cut through it. By my invention I provide for securing the formed bar of material'to the base plate in a number of ways which will fully appear in connection with the description of the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments of my invention, said drawings being as follows:

Fig. 1 shows in front elevation a complete sign in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 shows in a view similar to Fig. 1, one of the letters of the sign shown in Fig. 1 to an enlarged scale,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 2 taken along the line 3-3,

Fig. 4 shows in a view similar to Fig. 3, a modified form of bounding bar for forming the character,

Fig. 5 shows in a view similar to Fig. 3 a further modified form of bounding bar for forming the outline of the character and its relation to the mounting plate of the sign,

Fig. 6 shows a plurality of cross-sections of bounding bars that may be employed in carrying out my invention with the form of attachment to the mounting plate illustrated in Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 shows in a View similar to Fig. 6, a plurality of cross sections of bounding bars adapted for attachment to the mounting plate as illustrated in F igl 4: and

Fig. 8 shows in a View similar to Fig. 6, a plurality of cross sections of bounding bars that may .be used with the form of attachment to the mounting plate illustrated in Fig. 5.

Similar numerals. refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a mounting plate 10 is provided, which is preferably of thin sheet, metal, although it may be of other material such as glass, fibrous material or in fact any sheet material having sufficient stability to support the sign elements for display, which sheet'material may be opaque, translucent or transparent as de- -sired. The mounting plate 1.0 has formed therethrough an opening 11 having the general conformation of the letter or character to be displayed and around the edge of the opening 11, a bar of plastic or semiplastic material 12 is placed, which bar is bent to conform closely to the shape of the opening 11. In the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the bar 12 is provided with a flange 12 extending into the opening 11 forming a groove between the body portion of the bar and the said flange which prevents displacement of the formed bar in the plane of the mounting plate. The engagement described is advantageous in that it permits" the bar to be formed by means of suitable templates or forms, separately from the mounting plate and then put in place on the mounting plate, it being desirable to provide a small amount of clearance between the flange 12 and the edge of the opening 11, so that the formed bar will readily enter the-opening without deformation of the formed bar. When the formed bar is in place in the opening 111 it will be observed that the clearance space between the edge of the opening 11 and the flange 12 isentirely covered and the effect is that given by a substantial letter or character, as a result of the bar 12 having substantial width and depth, or in other words, appreciable width and thickness when viewed from a distance. The bar 12 may be of any plastic or semi-plastic material, such for example as rubber compound, metal alloy or soft metal such as soft copper, that will retain the conformation given it. The formed bar may be secured in the opening 11 either by cement or solder applied either to the outer tace ot the mounting plate 10 adjacent the edge ot the bar 12 or to the back oi": the mounting plate between the mounting plate and the flange 12" as de sired, depending upon the. particular materials employed and the results to be secured. This construction readily permits the mounting plate 10 to be given one color and the bar 12 to be given another color by any desired means for purposes ot orna1nentation and the opening etween the parallel portions 01? the bar 12 may readily give a different effect, due to a different light value back of the opening trom that the trout ot the mounting plate, since the back of the mounting plate may readily be made coniparatively dark if desired, according to the manner of mounting the sign; or it preterred a backing plate may be disposed back of the mounting plate having any desired color to give any desired effect through the opening left between the parallel portions ot the bar 12.

While the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3 illustrates a mounting; plate 10 individual to a letter or character,permitting the letters and characters to be made completely and carried in stock to readil ta= cilitate their assembly subsequently in any desired combinations to form a complete sign, it will be understood that the mount ing plate 10 may be of sutlicient size to torm a common mounting plate tor a plu ralit of letters or characters as indicatc in Fig. 1, it being understood that each or the letters or characters is constructed in the same manner above desc d ed or in the modified manner dos -ibed b low as d 'ired. The construction shown in IQ. l is sir lar to that above described in connection with Fi s. 2 and 3, the difference being that the pounding bar 12 is provided with a groove 12 along one oi its sides for engaging opposite sides of the mounting plate to more securely hold the bar in place in the mounting plate 10 where it is desirable to use cement or where .it is desirable to secure a. bounding bar in place without the use ot cement of solder. lln this construction the bounding bar after being contorined is inserted in the opening in the mounting plate by pressing it inwards slightly to bring the edge ot the opening in the mounting plate into the groove in the bounding bar.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5 the mounting plate 10 is illustrated as being without an opening corresponding to the shape of the letter or character and the bounding, bar 12 is secured to the face 01"". the mounting plate by cement or solder after being suitably formed, the bar being provided preferably, though not necessarily, with a flat face 12* for engaging the surface oi" the mounting plate.

As illustrated in Fig. 6 the bounding bar 12 may have any desired cross section depending upon the effect desired in connection with the resulting sign, each oil. the cross sect-ions being provided with a flange 12 for the purpose described in connection with Figs. 2 and 3. It will be understood that the cross sections ot bounding bar illus trated in Figs. 3 and 6 are merely illustrative and that the bounding bar may be given an desired cross section, the only requisite being that the bar shall have substantial width and thickness in order to i1npart to the letter or character a substantial appearance when viewed from a distance, which is not materially changed by various angles of view, when the letter or character is in a position of display on the sign plate.

In Fig.5. 7 a plurality of cross sections of the bounding bar 12 are shown, each being provided with a groove 12 for the purpose described in connection with the construction shown in Fig. 4 and in Fig. 8 a plurality of cross sections of bounding bar 12 are illustrated for use ith the construction illustrated in connection with Fig. 5, it being understood that the particular cross sections oi bounding liars shown in Figs. 7 and 8 are merely illustrative, as referred to in connection with Fig. 6. It will be understood that the construction shown in Fig. 5 may be employed it desired to give an oftect similar to ti at secured by the construction shown in 3 and t by mounting the bounding bar 155 on a mounting plate like the mounting plate 10 provided with an opening 11 through it corresponding to the letter or character termed by the bounding bar 12.

The result ot the construction above described is a sign coi'isisting ot letters or characters each oil which has a subsnntial and ornamental appearainc, vithout it being necessary in any case to cut the outstanding portion ot the letters and characters specially to the contor vtion ot said letters or characters. For any system of letters and characters that is adopted as standard, the bounding bars may be formed in advance in quantities, said bars being readily adapted without modification to torin any desired letter or character, whether its outline consists of curved lines. straight lines or a mixture of the two. and the formed bars may be readily assembled on the mounting plate or mounting plates. t meet the requirements in connection with any particular sign. Furthermore the bounding bar may be employed without modification or adaptation to dutline any said character or design which is not a stock character or design, it such special character or" design is required in connection With any particular sign.

While I have shown my invention in the particular en'ibodiments above described, it will be understood that I do not limit myto this exact construction, but that I may employ equivalents known to the art at the time of the filing of this application Without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a sign, the combination of a baseplate of sheet material having an opening therethrough outlining a desired character, said opening having substantial Width relatively to the height of the character, and a border bar of semi-plastic material of substantial Width and thickness bent to the con formation of said character outline with its outer edges separated at any point a greater distance than the Width of said opening, whereby the character face formed by said bar is Wider than the character face formed by said opening, said bar having a groove along one side engaging the edge of said opening to prevent displacement of said formed bar in the plane of said plate.

2. In a sign, the combination of a base plate of sheet material having an opening therethrough outlining a desired character, said opening having substantial Width relatively to the height of the character, and a border bar of semi-plastic material of substantial Width and thickness bent to the con formation of said character outline With its outer edges separated at any point a greater distance than the Width of said opening, whereby the character face formed by said baris wider than the character face formed by said opening, said bar having a groove along one side engaging the edge of said opening to prevent displacement of said formed bar in the plane of said plate, said bar extending from said opening on opposite sides of said plate to retain said bar in place Without additional fastening means.

3. In a sign, the combination of a baseplate of sheet material having an opening therethrough outlining a desired character, said opening having substantial Width rela tively to the height of the character, and a border bar of semi-plastic material of substantial Width and thickness bent to the conformation of said character outline with its outer edges separated at any point a greater distance than the Width of said opening, whereby the character face formed by said bar is wider than the character face formed by said opening, said bar having a groove along one side engaging the edge of said opening to prevent displacen'lent of said formed bar in the plane of said plate, there being a clearance between said bar and said opening covered by said bar.

4:- In a sign, the combination of a baseplate of sheet material having an opening therethrough outlining a desired character, said opening having substantial Width rela" tively to the height of the character, and a border bar of semi plastio material of sub stantial Width and thickness bent to the conformation of said character outline With its outer edges separated at any point a greater distance than the width of said opening, whereby the character face formed by said bar is Wider than the character face formed by said opening,said bar having a groove along one side engaging the edge of said opening to prevent displacement of said formed bar in the plane of said plate, there being a clearance between said bar and said opening covered by said bar and said bar being secured to said plate.

5. In a sign, the combination of a baseplate of sheet material having an opening therethrough outlining a desired character, said opening having substantial Width relatively to the height of the character, and a border bar of semi-plastic material of substantial Width and thickness bent to the conformation of said character outline With its outer edges separated at any point a greater distance than the Width of said opening, whereby the character face formed by said bar is Wider than the character face formed by said opening, said bar covering the edge of said opening and being secured to said plate.

6. In a sign, the combination of a baseplate of sheet material having an opening therethrough outlining a desired character, said opening having substantial Width relatively to the height of the character, and a border bar of semi-plastic material of substantial Width and thickness bent to the conformation of said character outline With its outer edges separated at any point a greater distance than the Width of said opening, whereby the character face formed by said bar is Wider than the character face formed by said opening, said bar being secured to said plate.

7. In a sign, a character element formed from a bar of semi-plastic material shaped to constitute an inner and an outer outline of said character, said bar being of substantial Width and thickness and having a groove along one side for engaging a m0unt ing plate.

8. In a sign, the combination of a base plate of sheet material having an opening therethrough outlining a desired character, and a border of semi-plastic material of substantial width and thickness bent to the conformation of said character outline, said. bent bar being secured to said base plate to form a border around the character opening therethrough.

9. In a sign, the combination of a base plate of sheet material having an opening stantial Width and thickness bent to the con-- formation of said character outline, said 5 bent bar being secured to said base plate to form a border around the character opening therethrouggh, said her havin :1 longitudinal groove for engaging the edge of the character opening in said base plate.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day of October, A. D. 1924:.

JOHN M. SCHILLING. 

